Fifth Annual 'Staples for Students' National School Supply Drive Gives Kids in Need a Back-to-School

Fifth Annual 'Staples for Students' National School Supply Drive Gives Kids in Need a Back-to-School Boost

Bella Thorne, DoSomething.org and Staples Unite to Make a Difference

NEW YORK & FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Teen actress and recording artist Bella Thorne teamed up for the 5th annual Staples for Students national school supply drive with Staples and DoSomething.org this summer to help thousands of kids in need. The campaign resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in school supplies going to students across the country.

Bella Thorne presents school supplies to the Boys & Girls Club of East Los Angeles (Photo: Business Wire)

Bella Thorne encouraged teens to make a difference by collecting supplies and helped raise awareness through a public service announcement and her social media channels. Most recently, Bella surprised children at the Boys & Girls Club of East Los Angeles with hundreds of bags of school supplies.

"It's been amazing to be a part of the Staples for Students program to rally my fellow teens to go out and get involved," said Thorne. "As a student, I know how important it is to be prepared for the school year, so a huge thank you to all of the teens who participated!"

Additional star power gave the Staples for Students campaign a big boost this summer. Teen celebrities lined the red carpet to stuff gift bags full of supplies at a Teen Choice Awards post-party hosted by Bella. Mike Aviles of the Boston Red Sox and Jake Peavy of the Chicago White Sox also pitched in by taking children from local Boys & Girls Clubs on back-to-school shopping sprees.

"It was inspiring to see people come together to participate in this important cause this back-to-school season," said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president of retail marketing at Staples. "We thank our customers, teen volunteers and Bella for helping to ensure that students have the tools they need to succeed in the classroom."

Starting in July, Staples customers were able to give back to their local communities by dropping off new school supplies or making a donation at the register with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting local students. In addition, Staples donated more than $125,000 worth of school supplies to the program. Since 2008, Staples for Students has raised more than $2.5 million for youth throughout the country.

About DoSomething.org:

We love teens. They are creative, active, wired...and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn't require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the US for teens and social change. Join us at www.DoSomething.org.

About Staples:

Staples is the world's largest office products company and a trusted source for office solutions. The company provides products, services and expertise in office supplies, copy & print, technology, facilities and breakroom, and furniture. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and now has annual sales of $25 billion, ranking second in the world in eCommerce sales. With 88,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia, making it easy for businesses of all sizes, and consumers. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (NAS: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com/media.